Central Athens hospital warns of staff shortages

One of the Greek capital’s busiest hospitals is currently short 780 doctors and nurses, with this number expected to rise by at least another 100 by the end of the year, the union representing workers at Evangelismos Hospital has warned.

The union, which is planning a protest rally outside the Health Ministry next Tuesday, said that dozens of doctors and nurses are due to retire from Evangelismos Hospital by the end of the year, with nationwide departures in the sector expected to reach as many as 3,000. It added that another 55 staff at the central Athens hospital will see their contracts at the end of 2015, leading to major shortages in key departments of the hospital.

Evangelismos treats an average of 1,500 patients on every emergency duty.